During the recent state visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to the Netherlands, water management stood out as a cornerstone of bilateral cooperation. For Oman—a country increasingly focused on climate resilience and sustainable urban development under Vision 2040—the Dutch capital of Amsterdam offered more than just policy alignment. It provided a rich, real-world case study of how a country can engineer its way out of crisis, not just through infrastructure, but through inclusive governance and a culture of innovation.
Amsterdam’s geography has made water management an existential necessity. Much of the city sits several meters below sea level, which means that without active intervention, large portions would flood within a day. Dutch engineers have spent centuries building and refining a layered defense system composed of dikes and levees to shield the land from rising sea and river levels, canals that channel water safely through and around urban areas, and pumping stations that operate 24/7 to keep groundwater and storm water in check. Storm surge barriers like the Maeslantkering automatically close to protect coastal zones during extreme weather.
What began with windmills has evolved into a seamless integration of mechanical and digital systems, powered increasingly by renewable energy. For Oman, where flash floods, water scarcity, and rapid urban growth present similar challenges, Amsterdam’s approach offers a valuable blueprint. The concept of layered protection, smart redundancy, and resilience planning aligns closely with Oman’s ambitions for sustainable infrastructure.
Beyond the traditional engineering marvels, Amsterdam has also embraced nature-based and data-driven solutions. A leading example is the RESILIO project, which has introduced a network of blue-green roofs across the city. These rooftops collect and store rainwater during storms, gradually releasing it into the drainage network to prevent overflows. They also cool buildings, reduce the urban heat island effect, and promote biodiversity. What makes them truly cutting-edge is their connection to a digital platform that uses real-time weather forecasts to regulate water retention and release, making the system adaptive and efficient. This kind of predictive infrastructure could offer Omani cities a way to manage extreme weather while improving livability.
Alongside these technical achievements, the Dutch cultural approach to water management left a deep impression on Omani visitors. In a post-visit conversation, Stefan de Vries, a prominent Dutch journalist and EU affairs commentator, described the national mindset born out of centuries of battling the sea. He explained that the Dutch “polder model” emphasizes consensus, collective responsibility, and flat hierarchies—a necessity when survival depends on cooperation.
“The sea is the common enemy,” he said. “That means the king, the carpenter, the doctor, the housewife—everyone works together to protect the land. There’s no hierarchy when it comes to water.”
De Vries contrasted this with more hierarchical cultures, where decision-making is often concentrated at the top. “Even the cleaning lady will speak up if the CEO’s idea is bad. And she has a right to. That’s the culture.”
This philosophy resonated with His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik’s broader aspirations under Vision 2040, which seeks to decentralize governance, foster civic engagement, and build local capacity. The message was clear: resilience is not just built in concrete and code—it’s also cultivated through trust, inclusion, and shared purpose.
Oman’s delegation returned with more than ideas—they returned with possibilities. Possibilities for adapting infrastructure, rethinking urban design, and perhaps most importantly, adopting a new kind of leadership rooted in collaboration. In a world facing increasing environmental stress, Amsterdam’s legacy of water wisdom may well flow into Oman’s future.
Najah al Riyami
The writer is a Media and Communication Master’s graduate skilled in diverse
writing formats, specialising in storytelling, branding, and in-depth journalism
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